'Sup! How are ya guys? It has been too long and I keep telling myself to write the next chapter, but then TV comes along and you know how I get around him. I'm a mindless zombie for days if I'm not careful. Anywho! I'm loving the story so far and I'm having fun writing it a lot. I have been having some school and friend related troubles lately, but hey! What are you going do? I am happy that I finally got this out because I feel that we're finally getting to the good stuff! Yay! Good stuff! I hope you guys enjoy it. I will try to make the chapters come out sooner next time, but don't say I didn't warn you. I said that these breaks would come eventually. Thanks for reading!


A week had passed since I arrived at the camp and I've already grown accustomed to the lifestyle. Eat, work, sleep. That's how things work. I'm glad I have Gajeel here to talk to otherwise I might go insane. All the guards seem to hate us and considering how little I actually do see Gajeel, I'm dying for some real contact. I worry that I talk his ear off during what little free time we have, but it's the only time I ever feel human. In fact, I have gotten a lot braver with some of the topics I talk about with him, including trying a find a way out. Gajeel refuses to listen to it and keeps telling me to give up, but I can't just do that. I need to see Levy and Wendy again. I know he feels the same, but for some reason he's too afraid to act. I don't blame him. They took our magic. I can feel that it's gone. It's missing and that thought terrifies me. But I have to do something! Anything! I can't stay here.

So when I walked into the cafeteria this morning, Gajeel wasn't surprised by what I had to say. I started off with any new info I had. "Okay, so I found out how the guard rotation works. So far it seems that we're being watched at all times except when they switch shifts. During our work shifts, there is a brief moment where the guards change places and while they're doing so there is no one there. Granted, it lasts only a few seconds, but I might have an idea to leave or hide while this happens."

"Lucy," hissed Gajeel. "You know they got cameras everywhere, right?"

"Not everywhere! The bathroom doesn't have any at all, so if there's anything we need to stash it should be there!" I felt myself getting excited at the idea. "If we can't use magic then we can get makeshift weapons!"

"They have guns!"

"We can cut the microchips out!"

"That's dangerous!"

"I know! But"

"Where would you even get the necessary tools to cut it out?"

"We make them! It will take time, but I know a way to do it!"

"Lucy, don't even-!"

Gajeel was cut off by the guards as they started to yell at us to get to work. Reluctantly, we were separated. He went off to work on building like he was assigned while I was forced to do something as boring as laundry. I felt strange, standing in a circle with other girls. Those girls were talking about boys and food they really wanted to eat. I felt strange standing next to them. I remembered when I was younger and I would have engaged in this kind of talk all day long, but now I found myself distracted by more important things. Still, I listened to their conversation for a while and tried to pretend that we were close friends doing chores together, and we were not in a concentration camp.

"What do you think, Lucy?" asked one girl. I popped my head up in confusion as the day dream of bring somewhere else vanished.

"You know my name?" I looked at her in surprise.

"We try to learn everyone's names here. We're in this together." The girl smiled, her brown eyes seeming to send a message. I thought I might take this chance to make a new friend and possibly an ally.

"I'm sorry. I haven't learned your name yet." I smiled back.

The girl set aside her basket of clothes and held her hand out. Her red hair falling in front of her face. Gracefully, she tucked the stray locks behind her ear and looked to me. "I'm Erza Scarlet."

I took her hand, feeling a bit jealous as I stood next to her looking perfect. I bet she's popular with the boys. Man, if I could have hair like her's instead of these lifeless blond tresses then I might look half as good as her. I ignored my inner thoughts and showed her a face of confidence.

"So, tell me Erza. How bad do you want out." I asked and her smile grew larger, yet seemed more mischievous than anything.

"Are you wanting out?" she asked, feeling unsure of whether I could be trusted.

"Of course." I said, folding the newly washed clothes in front of me. Erza returned to her chores and started talking to a few of the girls around. It seemed they were arguing about something. I felt scared that it might have something to do with reporting me to the guards. After a couple minutes the conversation ended and Erza spoke to the entire group of girls.

"We would like to welcome Lucy to the group. Everyone please welcome her. Before I go on, I must ask. Lucy?" called Erza. I looked at her staring at me, unsure of what to make of this. "How bad do you want out?" She asked.

I felt myself smiling at her. "More than anything."


I went to bed that night feeling sick with excitement. I was surprised to find a group who wanted out as bad as me and was willing to fight for it. They couldn't explain everything to me, but I found out that they've been trying to find a way out for a while and already have a plan to be put into action. A few guys are in on it but other than that it's just us girls. I asked them if Gajeel could come with us and they said they would have to talk about it.

I couldn't stop my body from shaking. I felt nervous and invigorated at the same time. I just have to find a way to get to Wendy and Levy. The thought that I might see them sooner than expected was too much and I felt like I might not get any sleep that night. I did, but not very much. I felt exhausted when I woke the next morning, but after eating my breakfast with Gajeel I nearly skipped to the laundry area.

"You're in a good mood." Erza chuckled as she walked in the tent after me. I wish we had an actual building with air conditioning, but instead we have large tents to shield us from the sun, though not even the heat could damper my mood.

"I am so ready to hear your plan and get out of here!" I cheered, careful to make sure that my voice couldn't be heard by the guards.

"Okay, get to work and I'll tell you." She didn't need to tell me twice. I instantly started washing my share of clothes as she told me the plan.

"So, the reason we're allowed to carry our magical items such as your keys," she gestured to the gold and silver keys hanging on my hip, "is because in case of an emergency where they need us to fight than they will just flip a switch giving us our powers until there's no longer a threat."

"Can't we just attack the guards then?"

"It's kinda hard when you're being attacked by an army who wants to kill you."

"Okay. Then we can run away and escape."

"For them to leave us powerless with a flip of a switch? Besides even if we got out there's the problem of the barrier." She said.

"The barrier?"

"There's a barrier around this camp. Magic users are not able to pass it even if they aren't able to use their powers like us."

"Okay, so we got to take down the barrier."

"Yes, and the best time to do that is when the general visits."

"General Gildarts?" I asked in shock.

"Yes. He's a magic user too. So, whenever he comes, they briefly turn off the barrier, so we need to slip away and get to the barrier right before he gets here."

"How often does he come?"

"At least once a week."

"When we get out, we have to take the chips in our arms out and we won't have much time. That's where Evergreen comes in."

I glanced at the girl with long light brown hair. She glanced at me and nodded. "Okay, what can she do?"

"Evergreen has a friend named Warren and he has telepathy. He can speak to us so long as he's in range. He and his friends will attack this place right when Gildarts arrive. The chips will be turned off because of the attack so they can't track us for a while. When we escape, some more of Evergreen's friends will be waiting for us and they're going to cut out our chips. Are you still with me?"

"This sounds like a complicated plan." I sighed, trying to take it all in.

"But it will work. Gildarts comes. Barrier goes down. Warren attacks. Chips turn off. We escape. Chips are cut out. Warren retreats. We're free."

"Freedom sound nice." I smiled and Erza smiled back.

"Good. I wish we could get out everybody, but they would notice if the whole camp tried to leave, so we sticking with the laundry girls and the other three guys including your friend." She patted my shoulder.

"You mean Gajeel can come?" I nearly dropped my laundry to hug her.

"Yes. I expect you to fill him in, okay?"

"You can count on me!" I cheered.

"There's only one problem though." She sighed and held her head in frustration.

"What is it?" I asked confused.

"We can't go on with the plan until-" Her words were cut off as a loud noise sounded, signaling that the gates were opening. "Inspection already?"

Erza poked her head out the flaps of the tent and I did the same. I followed her gaze to the entrance of the camp. The doors creaked open and General Gildarts strode in, smiling as he guided a young wizard to the nurses tent. She looked to be much younger than me. Maybe twelve? Probably closer to Wendy's age than mine. I felt my heart ache for her as she dragged herself to the tent. Is that what I looked like when I came here? I wanted nothing more than to get out of here.

"Him again? Why does he come here? He's not even a guard." Erza whispered under her breath. I looked away from Gildarts and the young girl towards the man walking in. I felt my stomach sink. It was a face I knew all too well. He was the last one I saw before I was brought here. Natsu. He walked towards the tent, his pink hair seeming to be longer than last I saw him. What do I know? It's been a week. I want to say he looked different even though he was relatively the same. Maybe it was the serious expression he wore or the fact that he was walking with his back straight. He didn't seem like the carefree jokester I knew.

"What is he doing here?" I croaked.

"You mean, Dragneel?" asked Erza. "He's not a guard or general or anything, but he visits sometimes because Gildarts is his dad."

My eyes went wide. "Hi dad?"

"Yeah, except I've heard rumors that he's adopted."

"His dad?"

"What? Do you know him?" she asked.

"Not well, but yeah. I met him more than once." I muttered in disbelief, watching as his body disappeared inside the nursing tent. He's going to watch that girl get chipped. He's not going to do anything. I was wrong about him. He can't be trusted.

Before I could ask Erza about what she wanted to say, a loud bell sounded. One by one, everyone filed out of the tent for their next job. Erza and I followed, knowing that we can't speak until tomorrow since laundry is the only time we see each other. I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye as the guards yelled for us to hurry up.

I had a lunch break next. I wish Erza shared her lunch period with me, so we could talk more, but I'm glad for a change of pace. Everything from the plan to Natsu has been a bit too much to take in and when I sat down with a hot bowl of improved sludge, nothing could appeal to me more. I didn't bother waiting for Gajeel to find me. I dug in, feeling life return to me. A good meal really does make a difference. By the time Gajeel did find me, I was already licking my bowl clean.

"You've never had this much of an appetite." He laughed, taking a seat beside me.

"I think Natsu is starting to rub off on me." I grinned.

"Natsu? You mean, Dragneel?" He asked. I didn't know how to reply. I guess Natsu and I are technically friends, but after seeing him today, I'm not so sure. Would it even be wise to call him a friend here? After some thought I finally decided to not talk about him.

"No, someone else. I met him before this." I lied. At least it was half true. "Anyways, I need to tell you something."

"Shoot." He said and I quietly explained the plan to him. When I was done, I wasn't surprised to see him with a stern look on. "That's stupid and dangerous."

"It's our only hope!" I said.

"Say we get out and everything goes perfectly then what about Levy and Wendy, huh? Are you just gonna let them die?" He hissed, causing me to flinch.

"I- I didn't think about that." I sighed.

"Of course not. Lucy. Wake up. We're stuck here. Understand everything that's at risk. I won't let you endanger them."

"I never meant to put them in any danger at all, but I'm not going to rot in here for the rest of my life!" I whispered as sharply as I could. I wanted to yell, but having the guards listen in on us could ruin everything. Oh yeah, we can't yell. We have to be secretive. Yet another reason to leave. If only Gajeel could see that.

"Do you think any of us want that?! Look around, Lucy!" He grabbed my shoulders and forced me to look at the rest of the wizards eating their lunch. It never hit me until now, just how many of us there are. Maybe a hundred in this room alone and if they divide the two lunch periods evenly then that means another hundred people are still waiting to get their food.

"How come you think that we haven't broken out yet?" He asked. His nails unintentionally dug into my shoulders.

"What are you getting at?" I begged, finding it more and more difficult to keep my voice down.

"Why do you think only such a small handful of y'all want to escape?"

"I don't know!"

"Because all these people are like you and me." He said with disgust.

"Like us?" I felt confused. "How are they like us?" And then it dawned on me. I looked at Gejeel with worry. The sudden realization of what's happening here was enough to make me puke. And I did. All I know is I felt dizzy and my stomach felt sick. Then guards came out with disgusting looks to drag me away.

"Take her to the clinic." Called one of them. I tried to walk on my own only to find my legs fumble like jelly. I entered the white tent where they inserted my chip into my arm. I feared that this wouldn't just be a checkup, but instead of thinking about that, all I could think of was this new piece of information. All the people here are like me and Gajeel. They weren't just captured. They weren't just too chicken to fight. All of them had someone they love taken. Someone who could easily be killed if they were to act up.